Kipchumba Murkomen, Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Transport, and Public Works, has revealed plans to build a new terminal at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) within three years.
Murkomen told the Senate plenary on Wednesday that the government intends to start the tender process on January 15, 2024.
The new terminal is part of a Public Private Partnerships (PPP) model, with the goal of having a fully operational facility within three years.
We are in the process of working on a new Public Private Partnerships (PPP) model of a new terminal that we should be advertising on January 15, 2024 and hopefully by June, we can get the relevant contractor so that in the next three years we have a completely new airport,” he said.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna expressed concern about passengers being dropped off far from airport terminals, particularly during the rainy season.
“I want the CS to explain to me the rationale of dropping passengers away from the entrance of the terminals in this particular season when it is raining. We are seeing what other international airports look like, why can’t we drop passengers at the doors of terminals?” Sifuna posed.
Murkomen explained that the international airport’s current infrastructure constraints necessitate the construction of a new terminal.
“Our JKIA infrastructure is a bit constrained to accommodate all the airlines parking that we require, and that is an issue that is in regard to building a new terminal,” he said.
This development coincides with a recent announcement by the Kenya Airports Authority indicating a comprehensive infrastructure overhaul at JKIA.
“To this end, the Government has commenced the process to address infrastructure development of the facility covering the expansion of the passenger terminal, runway capacity, and provision of additional aircraft parking bays beginning this financial year 2023/2024,” read the statement by KAA.
The response followed public outrage sparked by a viral video of roof leaks at the international airport in November.
Furthermore, a power outage that occurred during the same month drew attention, prompting KAA to assure the public that efforts were being made to synchronise additional backup power within 30 days.
